The FX miniseries American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez tells the story of his rise to fame and the shocking events that led to his downfall. In Episode 6, the show continues to look at Hernandez’s personal and mental problems — especially those that have to do with his sexuality and relationships. Hernandez’s complicated private life is shown in this episode through the character Chris, who was first presented earlier in the series.
In the opening scene of the episode, Hernandez (Josh Rivera) and Chris (Jake Cannavale) are shown waking up together following a short holiday in Cabo San Lucas. Hernandez, who is afraid of being found out as gay, uses this made-up trip as a way to escape. The small-scale setting is very different from the stresses of his normal life, which makes it an important time for character growth. But the peace in their relationship is quickly broken when Chris tells Hernandez how frustrated he is that he won’t recognize that the time they’ve spent together is meaningful. Chris says, “These last few days don’t mean nothing,” which emphasizes the mental weight that Hernandez doesn’t want to face.
Was Chris a Real-Life Boyfriend of Aaron Hernandez?
It’s important to make it clear that Chris is a figure made up just for the show. Aaron Hernandez has never been to Cabo San Lucas or been in a relationship with someone named—Chris. There are no reliable records or signs that he did either. The character is more of a plot device than a real person. It shows how Hernandez battles with his identity and the expectations of society as a —professional athlete.
Hernandez was known to have a small number of close relationships that were often kept secret. His high school teammate Dennis SanSoucie and another prisoner, Kyle Kennedy, are the only people who have been openly linked to his sexuality. Because of this, most of what the show says about Chris’s character is based on rumors and made-up stories rather than real events.
Hernandez’s Emotional Chaos
As the show goes on, Hernandez’s refusal to see how important his relationship with Chris is ends in heartbreak when Chris breaks up with Hernandez. Because of this emotional fallout, Hernandez turns to his friend Alexander Bradley for comfort. This leads to a night of bad behavior that ends in fighting. This scene shows how Hernandez is having a hard time with his identity and relationships, as he tries to deal with the weight of his choices and the results they have.
Also, the episode shows very clearly how Hernandez feels as he watches the news coverage of Junior Seau’s death. Seau, who used to play in the NFL, had chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a brain disease that gets worse over time and is caused by repeated head impacts. This moment not only brings attention to the mental health problems players face but it also shows how Hernandez’s own mental health is getting worse. Later tests showed that Hernandez had the worst case of CTE ever seen in someone so young, which added another sad part to his story.
Episode 6 of American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez crafts a story that delves into the emotional depths of its main character, while also addressing the fact that Chris is made up. It is important to remember that this character is not based on a real person or event. Even though it is used to show Hernandez’s problems with love and identity. In the end — the show is meant to be a warning about the dangers of fame— the difficulties of finding oneself and the terrible results of living a secret life.
For additional news, previews, and recaps about AMERICAN SPORTS STORY: AARON HERNANDEZ, go to tvacute.com.
Ryan Murphy’s New Stories ‘American Sports Story’ & ‘American Love Story’ On the way
AMERICAN SPORTS STORY: IS AARON HERNANDEZ GAY?
American Sports Story: Aaron Hernandez Episode 4 Preview
